Hurricane Relief Efforts – Filling in the GAP

As we watch the news these last two weeks, many of us wonder what we can do to support our siblings in Christ who are being affected by natural disaster. Here are three important ways for you to support and offer hope and relief to those who have been affected by these natural disasters. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance encourages us to fill in the GAP: Give, Act, Pray. Here are tangible ways for you to do just that:

GIVE

Please continue to donate to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. PDA will be working in these areas long after media coverage tells their stories. PDA will remain and work with families for years as these communities continue to rebuild. Support their work financially by clicking HERE or by texting PDA to 20222 to give $10 to the General Relief account.

ACT

1. Clean-Up BucketsAssemble a flood cleanup bucket. Presbytery of Charlotte will send a tractor trailer of flood clean-up buckets in mid-October. Flood Buckets are given to households as they begin to clean and rebuild their houses to be safe homes again. Most supplies can be purchased at Lowes and Target or Walmart. Click HERE to see a list of what to put in a clean up bucket. Our goal as a church is to provide 20 buckets. Sign up HERE to let us know you are providing a bucket:

Sign up for Day of Discipleship on September 30. During this time, volunteers will help to inventory and assemble the truckload of cleanup buckets our community will send to disaster relief efforts. Supporting this effort will ensure that each bucket has every necessary item for a family to clean their home. Once buckets are shipped, the next person who will open them is the family beginning to clean their home. Click HERE to sign up!

2. Shower BuildingThe Presbytery of Charlotte is one of two Presbyteries that offers shower buildings in time of disaster relief. The shower buildings allow people in need of a shower, as well as volunteers, a space to shower for many months following a disaster. Presbytery of Charlotte is in the process of finishing 5 shower buildings to be sent to Texas and Florida. We need people with experience in plumbing and/or electrical work (proficient, not professional) to help finish these buildings. If you can help with this, please email Grace Lindvall HERE.

PRAY

Let us join together in prayer, communally and individually, for those who have been affected by these disasters. Let us pray not once, but daily, for their recovery and rehabilitation and for God’s presence to be with them at this time. Join us in this prayer:

Holy God, your presence sustains us and moves over us, you have moved across the watery chaos and brought hope and life out of disaster. Again, God, bring life and hope in places where disaster has struck. Move your Spirit among places where all has been lost and revive the souls of those who are lost and in need. May your Spirit give hope to those who have been affected by these storms, those in Texas, Florida, Haiti, the Caribbean. Help us to remain mindful and faithful as we respond and support our siblings in Christ. Give us courage and discernment to act in ways that support their needs and bring hope to their lives. Help us to remain mindful of their needs this week and next week and in the weeks to come. We pray trusting you, God, who brings healing and hope to places we cannot see. In your name we pray, Amen.